diff --git a/ruby/Makefile.am b/ruby/Makefile.am
index 8c9684423..f605188e0 100644
--- a/ruby/Makefile.am
+++ b/ruby/Makefile.am
@@ -29,7 +29,8 @@ EXTRA_DIST = \
 	lib/guestfs.rb \
 	run-bindtests \
 	run-ruby-tests \
-	t/tc_*.rb
+	t/tc_*.rb \
+	t/test_helper.rb
 
 CLEANFILES = \
 	lib/*~ \
diff --git a/ruby/t/tc_010_load.rb b/ruby/t/tc_010_load.rb
index 800d1ff81..f1d296c4c 100644
--- a/ruby/t/tc_010_load.rb
+++ b/ruby/t/tc_010_load.rb
@@ -15,10 +15,7 @@
 # along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
 # Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA.
 
-require 'test/unit'
-$:.unshift(File::join(File::dirname(__FILE__), "..", "lib"))
-$:.unshift(File::join(File::dirname(__FILE__), "..", "ext", "guestfs"))
-require 'guestfs'
+require File::join(File::dirname(__FILE__), 'test_helper')
 
 class TestLoad < Test::Unit::TestCase
   def test_load
diff --git a/ruby/t/tc_020_create.rb b/ruby/t/tc_020_create.rb
index d765acd0a..74764392f 100644
--- a/ruby/t/tc_020_create.rb
+++ b/ruby/t/tc_020_create.rb
@@ -15,10 +15,7 @@
 # along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
 # Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA.
 
-require 'test/unit'
-$:.unshift(File::join(File::dirname(__FILE__), "..", "lib"))
-$:.unshift(File::join(File::dirname(__FILE__), "..", "ext", "guestfs"))
-require 'guestfs'
+require File::join(File::dirname(__FILE__), 'test_helper')
 
 class TestLoad < Test::Unit::TestCase
   def test_create
diff --git a/ruby/t/tc_030_create_flags.rb b/ruby/t/tc_030_create_flags.rb
index 7ec2ce99b..3286a1f60 100644
--- a/ruby/t/tc_030_create_flags.rb
+++ b/ruby/t/tc_030_create_flags.rb
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # libguestfs Ruby bindings -*- ruby -*-
-# Copyright (C) 2013 Red Hat Inc.
+# Copyright (C) 2013-2014 Red Hat Inc.
 #
 # This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
 # it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
@@ -15,10 +15,7 @@
 # along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
 # Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA.
 
-require 'test/unit'
-$:.unshift(File::join(File::dirname(__FILE__), "..", "lib"))
-$:.unshift(File::join(File::dirname(__FILE__), "..", "ext", "guestfs"))
-require 'guestfs'
+require File::join(File::dirname(__FILE__), 'test_helper')
 
 class TestLoad < Test::Unit::TestCase
   def test_create_flags
diff --git a/ruby/t/tc_040_create_multiple.rb b/ruby/t/tc_040_create_multiple.rb
index 339b699e3..0d86786a5 100644
--- a/ruby/t/tc_040_create_multiple.rb
+++ b/ruby/t/tc_040_create_multiple.rb
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # libguestfs Ruby bindings -*- ruby -*-
-# Copyright (C) 2013 Red Hat Inc.
+# Copyright (C) 2013-2014 Red Hat Inc.
 #
 # This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
 # it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
@@ -15,10 +15,7 @@
 # along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
 # Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA.
 
-require 'test/unit'
-$:.unshift(File::join(File::dirname(__FILE__), "..", "lib"))
-$:.unshift(File::join(File::dirname(__FILE__), "..", "ext", "guestfs"))
-require 'guestfs'
+require File::join(File::dirname(__FILE__), 'test_helper')
 
 class TestLoad < Test::Unit::TestCase
   def test_create_multiple
diff --git a/ruby/t/tc_050_handle_properties.rb b/ruby/t/tc_050_handle_properties.rb
index cf4a7a75f..55bb2072e 100644
--- a/ruby/t/tc_050_handle_properties.rb
+++ b/ruby/t/tc_050_handle_properties.rb
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # libguestfs Ruby bindings -*- ruby -*-
-# Copyright (C) 2013 Red Hat Inc.
+# Copyright (C) 2013-2014 Red Hat Inc.
 #
 # This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
 # it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
@@ -15,10 +15,7 @@
 # along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
 # Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA.
 
-require 'test/unit'
-$:.unshift(File::join(File::dirname(__FILE__), "..", "lib"))
-$:.unshift(File::join(File::dirname(__FILE__), "..", "ext", "guestfs"))
-require 'guestfs'
+require File::join(File::dirname(__FILE__), 'test_helper')
 
 class TestLoad < Test::Unit::TestCase
   def test_handle_properties
diff --git a/ruby/t/tc_060_explicit_close.rb b/ruby/t/tc_060_explicit_close.rb
index 74456e45b..4752d479b 100644
--- a/ruby/t/tc_060_explicit_close.rb
+++ b/ruby/t/tc_060_explicit_close.rb
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # libguestfs Ruby bindings -*- ruby -*-
-# Copyright (C) 2013 Red Hat Inc.
+# Copyright (C) 2013-2014 Red Hat Inc.
 #
 # This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
 # it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
@@ -15,10 +15,7 @@
 # along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
 # Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA.
 
-require 'test/unit'
-$:.unshift(File::join(File::dirname(__FILE__), "..", "lib"))
-$:.unshift(File::join(File::dirname(__FILE__), "..", "ext", "guestfs"))
-require 'guestfs'
+require File::join(File::dirname(__FILE__), 'test_helper')
 
 class TestLoad < Test::Unit::TestCase
   def test_explicit_close
diff --git a/ruby/t/tc_070_optargs.rb b/ruby/t/tc_070_optargs.rb
index e28f944a7..b8c23e65d 100644
--- a/ruby/t/tc_070_optargs.rb
+++ b/ruby/t/tc_070_optargs.rb
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # libguestfs Ruby bindings -*- ruby -*-
-# Copyright (C) 2010 Red Hat Inc.
+# Copyright (C) 2010-2014 Red Hat Inc.
 #
 # This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
 # it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
@@ -15,10 +15,7 @@
 # along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
 # Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA.
 
-require 'test/unit'
-$:.unshift(File::join(File::dirname(__FILE__), "..", "lib"))
-$:.unshift(File::join(File::dirname(__FILE__), "..", "ext", "guestfs"))
-require 'guestfs'
+require File::join(File::dirname(__FILE__), 'test_helper')
 
 class TestLoad < Test::Unit::TestCase
   def test_optargs
diff --git a/ruby/t/tc_100_launch.rb b/ruby/t/tc_100_launch.rb
index f77a026f3..68fb1197d 100644
--- a/ruby/t/tc_100_launch.rb
+++ b/ruby/t/tc_100_launch.rb
@@ -15,10 +15,7 @@
 # along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
 # Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA.
 
-require 'test/unit'
-$:.unshift(File::join(File::dirname(__FILE__), "..", "lib"))
-$:.unshift(File::join(File::dirname(__FILE__), "..", "ext", "guestfs"))
-require 'guestfs'
+require File::join(File::dirname(__FILE__), 'test_helper')
 
 class TestLoad < Test::Unit::TestCase
   def test_launch
diff --git a/ruby/t/tc_410_close_event.rb b/ruby/t/tc_410_close_event.rb
index f694ca86b..d0c446563 100644
--- a/ruby/t/tc_410_close_event.rb
+++ b/ruby/t/tc_410_close_event.rb
@@ -15,10 +15,7 @@
 # along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
 # Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA.
 
-require 'test/unit'
-$:.unshift(File::join(File::dirname(__FILE__), "..", "lib"))
-$:.unshift(File::join(File::dirname(__FILE__), "..", "ext", "guestfs"))
-require 'guestfs'
+require File::join(File::dirname(__FILE__), 'test_helper')
 
 class TestLoad < Test::Unit::TestCase
   def test_events
diff --git a/ruby/t/tc_420_log_messages.rb b/ruby/t/tc_420_log_messages.rb
index 6757d4623..4397e6e5f 100644
--- a/ruby/t/tc_420_log_messages.rb
+++ b/ruby/t/tc_420_log_messages.rb
@@ -15,10 +15,7 @@
 # along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
 # Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA.
 
-require 'test/unit'
-$:.unshift(File::join(File::dirname(__FILE__), "..", "lib"))
-$:.unshift(File::join(File::dirname(__FILE__), "..", "ext", "guestfs"))
-require 'guestfs'
+require File::join(File::dirname(__FILE__), 'test_helper')
 
 class TestLoad < Test::Unit::TestCase
   def test_events
diff --git a/ruby/t/tc_800_rhbz507346.rb b/ruby/t/tc_800_rhbz507346.rb
index 66e0e9269..100b1fe76 100644
--- a/ruby/t/tc_800_rhbz507346.rb
+++ b/ruby/t/tc_800_rhbz507346.rb
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # libguestfs Ruby bindings -*- ruby -*-
-# Copyright (C) 2009 Red Hat Inc.
+# Copyright (C) 2009-2014 Red Hat Inc.
 #
 # This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
 # it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
@@ -15,10 +15,7 @@
 # along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
 # Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA.
 
-require 'test/unit'
-$:.unshift(File::join(File::dirname(__FILE__), "..", "lib"))
-$:.unshift(File::join(File::dirname(__FILE__), "..", "ext", "guestfs"))
-require 'guestfs'
+require File::join(File::dirname(__FILE__), 'test_helper')
 
 class TestLoad < Test::Unit::TestCase
   def test_rhbz507346
diff --git a/ruby/t/tc_810_rhbz664558c6.rb b/ruby/t/tc_810_rhbz664558c6.rb
index 5eb373ea0..105035b7f 100644
--- a/ruby/t/tc_810_rhbz664558c6.rb
+++ b/ruby/t/tc_810_rhbz664558c6.rb
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # libguestfs Ruby bindings -*- ruby -*-
-# Copyright (C) 2011 Red Hat Inc.
+# Copyright (C) 2011-2014 Red Hat Inc.
 #
 # This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
 # it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
@@ -19,10 +19,7 @@
 # the interpreter to segfault.  See:
 # https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=664558#c6
 
-require 'test/unit'
-$:.unshift(File::join(File::dirname(__FILE__), "..", "lib"))
-$:.unshift(File::join(File::dirname(__FILE__), "..", "ext", "guestfs"))
-require 'guestfs'
+require File::join(File::dirname(__FILE__), 'test_helper')
 
 class TestLoad < Test::Unit::TestCase
   def test_rhbz664558c6
diff --git a/ruby/t/tc_820_rhbz1046509.rb b/ruby/t/tc_820_rhbz1046509.rb
index 978decd83..831aaf058 100644
--- a/ruby/t/tc_820_rhbz1046509.rb
+++ b/ruby/t/tc_820_rhbz1046509.rb
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # libguestfs Ruby bindings -*- ruby -*-
-# Copyright (C) 2013 Red Hat Inc.
+# Copyright (C) 2013-2014 Red Hat Inc.
 #
 # This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
 # it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
@@ -18,10 +18,7 @@
 # Test that we don't break the old ::create module function while
 # fixing https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1046509
 
-require 'test/unit'
-$:.unshift(File::join(File::dirname(__FILE__), "..", "lib"))
-$:.unshift(File::join(File::dirname(__FILE__), "..", "ext", "guestfs"))
-require 'guestfs'
+require File::join(File::dirname(__FILE__), 'test_helper')
 
 class TestLoad < Test::Unit::TestCase
   def _handleok(g)
diff --git a/ruby/t/test_helper.rb b/ruby/t/test_helper.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8ebfe2f97
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ruby/t/test_helper.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+# libguestfs Ruby bindings -*- ruby -*-
+# Copyright (C) 2009-2014 Red Hat Inc.
+#
+# This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+# it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+# the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
+# (at your option) any later version.
+#
+# This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+# GNU General Public License for more details.
+#
+# You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+# along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
+# Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA.
+
+require 'test/unit'
+
+$:.unshift(File::join(File::dirname(__FILE__), "..", "lib"))
+$:.unshift(File::join(File::dirname(__FILE__), "..", "ext", "guestfs"))
+require 'guestfs'